Need help on where to go from Geneva

Thanks Bandit ... appreciate the input. I have never skied in Europe so really do appreciate the input. My health insurance in the US should cover any health emergencies but I am wondering if there are unique costs that would not be covered that should be worth investigating? Sounds like Chamonix would be a better mountain to pursue. Thanks for all your help. If you are ever in the Tahoe area I will be happy to return the favor!

You absolutely will need to make sure you have accident and recovery on the hill insurance cover - including off-piste.

If your USA insurance covers normal medical expenses in Europe does it cover skiing/dangerous sports things? Does it cover rescue from the hill in Europe and does it cover you for skiing off-piste?

It is my understanding that off-piste in Europe is treated differently to USA. For example just going 25yds "over there", or even between pistes will make you technically off-piste where rescue costs, particularly should a helicopter be involved, monstrously more expensive.

There is something called Carre Neige available, which can usually be purchased with your lift pass for a euro or two per day (I think) which may be all the top up you need.

Do check your insurance position; nothing would ruin a trip more than an injury that curtails your pleasure than an injury and then the thousands of $$$$$ you have to pay on top!

A point to note here is that the Carre Neige insurance does not cover repatriation costs for non Europeans.

http://www.carreneige.com/en/garanties.php

Chamonix,

has been dumping almost solid for 2 days now so should be good timing. 1hr transfer (many transfer companies), good transport to slopes, steepest skiing in Europe, biggest vertical in world. proper ski town so beaucoup eating and sleeping options for all budgets. Need you know more?
:-).

Oh man ... Ranchero you just made my mind up for me! Chamonix here I come! I found cheap transfers from Geneva and have seen the snow report. I am so pumped! All I need to do is sort out how to get insurance and accommodation. Many have mentioned that Chamonix is pretty spread out. I have seen lodging all over the resort but it seems like being near the town is best? Thank you again to everyone for their help ... will definitely post a trip followup when I get back!

Result :thumbup:

everglade99 wrote: Many have mentioned that Chamonix is pretty spread out. I have seen lodging all over the resort but it seems like being near the town is best? Thank you again to everyone for their help ... will definitely post a trip followup when I get back!

For really early, or really late booking in Chamonix, I like Booking.com

http://www.booking.com/

I stayed last time in the Hotel Vallee Blanche very central.

Definitely try and get somewhere in town, as you will need to use the buses to get around.

Chamonix will be the closest and there is a scheduled bus service between Geneva/Geneve Airport and Chamonix. Chamonix is higher than Port de Soleil. I know that Morzine/Avoriaz and other places in PDS got lot of snow and base is good, but the snow preserves much better at higher altitude. Regardless of the base thickness one abnormally warm week can make the snow really bad, and we seem to get plenty abnormally warm weeks this year. TBH, all this season has been abnormally warm. Snowfall was good, but apart from couple (abnormally) cold weeks temperatures stayed very mild from December onwards. If it wasn't for the really big snow December/January there would be nothing to ski on by now.
And I second Bandit that Chamonix will make for a greater skiing experience. While car is a plus it's not a must and you can get around Chamonix by bus which is free and runs fairly regularly. And being a proper town it has a good nightlife, even a strip club and a casino:)